SUMMER 2004 GAMES: WOMEN'S MARATHON

Published: August 24, 2004

Crushed by her failure to finish the women's Olympic marathon Sunday, Paula Radcliffe broke down twice yesterday as she struggled to explain how her dreams were shattered.

The tears first flowed in a television interview and later when she was facing 100 reporters at the Athens Games.

''Emotionally, it kicks you in the guts,'' said Radcliffe, 30, who has the world record but has failed in three attempts to win an Olympic medal.

''I just felt I had let everyone else down, but no one was hurting inside as much as me,'' said Radcliffe, one of Britain's favorite athletes. Her defeat was watched live by 10 million television viewers in Britain.

Mizuki Noguchi of Japan won the gold medal, Catherine Ndereba of Kenya the silver and Deena Kastor of the United States the bronze.

Radcliffe, running with the lead pack, faded to fourth, then stopped with three and a half miles left. After trying to resume, she sat down and cried. ''It just got to a stage in the middle of the race when I just had nothing in my legs,'' she said.

Radcliffe finished fifth in the 5,000 meters at the 1996 Atlanta Games and fourth in the 10,000 at the 2000 Sydney Games. She set the marathon world record last year in London in 2 hours 15 minutes 25 seconds.

Radcliffe did not rule out competing in the 10,000 on Friday night. ''I desperately want to get out there and try and redeem all the work I have put in and all the support I have had,'' she said.